Port St. Lucie High School dancers bring 'Broadway' to town

HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Port St. Lucie senior Tyler Beauregard, 17, (center) playing Rum Tum Tugger and sophomore Morgan Sherwin, 16, (right), perform with senior Shanice Thompson, 18, playing Old Deuteronomy (left) during a dress rehearsal of Port St. Lucie High School's production of "Cats" on Saturday. "It's really fun to get into character with all the makeup on," said Beauregard. "It's an amazing opportunity."

HOBIE HILER

HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
Port St. Lucie senior Kevin Corkum, 18, (left) playing Munkustrap, gets help with his costume from senior Collin Barbieri, 17, playing Mungojerrie, as they prepare for a dress rehearsal of Port St. Lucie High School's production of "Cats" on Saturday. "It's one of the most challenging makeup jobs that we have had to do for any high school production," said Corkum.

HOBIE HILER

New York City might be 1,200 miles away, but Port St. Lucie High School is bringing a little bit of Broadway to the Treasure Coast.

The students in Port St. Lucie High School's dance department will be performing their 12th annual show March 30 through April 1. With a cast of more than 60 performers, "The Back Streets of Broadway" will showcase two timeless musicals, "Cats" and "West Side Story."

"I really enjoy portraying a story completely through dance," said senior Kevin Corkum, playing the parts of Munkustrap and Riff. "It's a lot of fun."

Port St. Lucie High School's dance director, Brian Spector, said the students have worked very hard on their characters, researching their parts and practicing many hours a week. Some dancers have even been in contact with people from actual Broadway productions to fully prepare for their roles.

"They work all year for this," Spector said. "They are very excited. It gives them an opportunity to really become another character and just let their emotions out in the way they're performing."

Senior Brandon Block, playing Mr. Mistoffelees and Tony, has been part of the dance department for four years. Right now he is dancing about 18 hours a week in preparation for the show.

"We're a group of really hardworking, dedicated dancers who have done our research and know our parts inside and out," Block said. "We've put in hours of work, and it really does show. We don't settle for mediocre."

The show incorporates elaborate makeup, outrageous costumes shipped from different theaters across the country and a one-of-a-kind set, which includes a floating tire.

"There's no detail that's overlooked," Spector said. "We go all out. Anyone that comes will be very surprised to see productions of this professional level in this area, plus in a high school."